Advertising and signaling device



Sept. 13, 1932. H. K. HARRIS 1,8???172 ADVERTISING AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26. 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet l Wwfh Sept- A13, 1.932 H. K. HARRIS 1,877,172

ADVERTISING AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1926 6 Shees--Sheuacl 2 mgm.

Sept# I3, 1932- H. KA HARRIS ADVERTISING AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 mgm.

Sept. 13, 1932. H. K. HARRIS ADVERTISING AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2e, 1926 6 sheets-sheet `4 F. .15 .164A 9? Mig 9g 95 y. w a m WQ Mg mm m M M ww 9 pag.22. Img. Fig.

Sept. 13, 1932. H. K HARRlS 1,877,172

ADVERTISING AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Flg.

Figa?.

Sept. 13, 1932. H. K. HARRIS ADVERTISING AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Y INVENTOR B17 K. Ha Tris,

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 13, 1932 prent ,r1-ice HENRY KINGSFOBD HARRIS, or Wnsvrivmvsrn'n, LoNDoN, ENGLAND Anvnn'rrsme Ann SIGNALING DnvIcE Application filed August 2 6, 1926, Serial No. 131345:, and/'in Great Britain September 3,1925.

This invention relatesto advertising "and signaling devices of the type in which a plurality of visual elements such for eXample as bands, flaps, discs, plates, slides,-

spheres or parts thereof., electric lamps,l or other suitable devices which may be arrange in groups to constitute units or in a field, or,`

units of elements may be lfixed withiresp'ect tothe selectively operated setting er composing means, or the elements or units and the said means may ber movable relatively to pass each other in any desired direction or an ini` termediate member with parts adapted to be.

selectively operated by the setting orcon1- posing means may pass the relativelyrixed l' setting or composing means and convey the setting imparted thereto to relatively fixed elements or units of elements. y

' The composing device may comprise a number of the independentj acquard parts any one er more of which may be set into position tol operate a. desired number of elements to form, a letter, word orv other indication'and such jacquard parts may be .selectively set into position by hand or by anyform otselector or byanother jacquard whichmay be a repeat jacquard or storage jacquard.

rIhe composing devicein some cases may' consist of a single jacquard adapted to take up various positions and thereby impart various settings to the mechanisms in association therewith. Ths single jacquard may consist of a drum or the like with projections or recesses thereon in various positions7 which can be brought .step by step into operative position or which'can be turned, by a selector i action or otherwise into desired positions.

Such a j cycle of settings a desired number of times.

acquard when moving step by step I `may be a repeat jacquard to repeat a certain JaQOlllardsof this nature may also be change- 5U able to allow different announcements to be set up.

The means controlling the setting or composing means may be electric, pneumatic,

mechanical or otherwise or any desired 0.0111- bination of such meansy may be employed. Fon distant control anyV known, telegraphic code may be used for selectively operating any. part'or parts controlling vthe setting means. VThe telegraphic code system lis particularly suitable for setting selectors into position', which selectors may be permutation selectors, and'which control the position subsequently operated mechanism Vor parts are adapted to take up to directly or indirectly effect, the setting of the elements` Telegraph codes Jfor thepurpose of the invention can be combined with and operate in conjunction with any of the usual associated apparatus used in telegraphy and may be transmittedV from a typewriter transmitter. Telegraph storage devices may also be com-V bined therewith.

The elements may be mounted in'groups in units v which may be plates or frames The plates or frames mayv vbe spaced at ref quired distances apart and-moved by a chain or chains or the like attached vthereto or they may be jointed together. Theseplates may resemblelslots and form an endless band carrying rows of elements. An endless band background can also in some cases be formed from woven metal or textile or a combination thereof ladapted rigidly and firmly to support the elements. v

In orderthat theinvention may bebetter y understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings vadaptedto move along suitable guideways.

which show one coiistructional embodiment of the invention and in which Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic fragiii-entary elevation, partly broken away, of the exhibiting portion of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower' runway and associated parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detached plan of the upper runway shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the upper and lower portions' of a travelling unit as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the lower portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of F10". 4.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the elements carried by the unitplate.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is an elevation and Fig. 10 a planv of a deleting device. ,Y c

Fig. 11 is an elevation showing the comy posing device on a larger scale with the parts in the unset or rest position.

Fig. 12 is a sectional side elevation of Fig.

j 11 taken through the centre.

Fig. 13 is a similar view to Fig. 12 but showing the upper portion only and with the parts in another position.

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the driving side of Fig. 11 showing the upper portion only.

Fig. 15 is a plan of Fig. 11. l

Fig. 15a is a horizontal section taken on line A-B of Fig. 11.

Figs. 16 and 17 are elevations in different i 1 positions of a detail of the drive to illustrate the method of zeroizing the permutation bars.

Fig. 13 is a plan of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a detail elevation showing the method of throwing the drive of the composing device into gear.

Fig; 20 is a side elevation of the gearing driven from the main drive, for driving the composing and deleting devices.

Fig. 21 shows an elevation of one of a pluiality Vof transverse bars adapted to be set by the composing device to operate the elements. Y

Figs. 22, 23 and 24 show in side elevation three relative positions of a jacquard part of the composing device7 and a transverse bai'V as shown in Fig. 21. Y A

Fig. 25 shows in elevatiomand Fig. 26 in plan, both being somewhat diagrammatic, a modified form of deleting device.

Fig. 27 shows in elevation, ig. 28 in sec tional plan, one form of element suitable for use in advertising units constructed accord ing to the present invention.

Figure 29 is a plan view shown more or less diagrammatically of the advertising device having luminous display elements.

Figure 30 is a plan view of a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 29.

Figure 31 is a further modification of the construction shown in Figs. 29 and 30, and

Figure 32 is a plan view of a further modified form of the device shown in Figure 29.

ln the drawings a system is shown in which i the elements are arranged in groups on unit plates adapted to be moved through an endless path and to receive settings from a relatively iixed composing device `comprising a number of independent jacquard parts adapted to be selectively set into position by means of an electrically operated permutation selector.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 10, 25 is a girder like support adapted to be carried by main supports (not shown) which girder carries brackets 26 having bearings for the spindles of freely rotatable chain wheels 27 which lie in a horizontal plane and are connected by means ofan endless chain 28 of desired l" length. rllhe chain runs in channel members 29 supported by channel irons 30fattached to the girder 25 at desired intervals.

The spindle of the chain wheel kat the right of the drawing,also carries another chain wheel 31 connected by means of a chain 32 to another chain wheel 33 driven through a worin andworm wheel gearing from an electric motor 34. Y

The supports 30 carry vertical standards 35 of channel section which at their upper ends have attached thereto by welding or otherwise supporting arms 36 of T section which carry at their ends and on their under sides an endless track 37 of T section. This track 37 is so disposed that it comes vertically above thecentre of the channel members 29. l/ihere the channel members 29 conduct vthe chain 28 around the wheels 27 they are curved as shown and the track 37 is correspondingly 7- in the spindle of a forked bearing Awhich carries the horizontal spindle of a roller 41V adapted to run in contact with and beneath the endless track 37. When passing round corners and curves the spindle of the bearing 40 is adapted to turn or swivel in its bearings. Towards the other upper corner of the plate 38 a similar roller 41 is mounted but in this case instead of the vertical spindle of the bearing 40 being mounted directly in the turned over edge of the plate 38 it is mounted on a horizontal lever 42 pivoted to the turned over edge of the plate, said lever being free to turn about its pivot. rlhe action of this lever will be more-fully described in connecition with a similar arrangement at the lower edge of the plate 38. y y Y The plate 38 at its lower edge is bent round at right angles and towards theright hand corner carries bearings for a vertical spindle 43 see Figs. 5 and 6. This spindle passes through a distance piece A44 and enters a vertical hole in the linls of the endless chain 28 as clearly shown in the drawings, the spindle being perfectly free to turn in its bearings. The distance piece 44 carries horizontal spindles for rollers 45 and 46, the latter being flanged and coming at the outside of the runway constituted by the upper edges of the channel members v29. A similar roller arrangement is provided towards the lett hand lower corner of the plate 38 but in this case the spindle 43 as shown in Fig. 5 is carried by the free end of a lever 47 pivoted at 46 to the lower flange of the plate 38. The lever is similar to the lever 42 before referred to and is perfectly free to turn about its pivot 48. The spindle 43 mounted in the tree end thereof is also tree to turn in the lever and as a consequencey when the unit late 38 has to pass round the curved ends of the trackways 29 and 37 it is enabled to do so by the combined movements of the-parts about their vertical axes.

`The drawings show only the portions of the trackwa-ysincluding Vand adjacent the curved ends but it mustbe realized the track may be of any required length, which may include curves or corners although it is preterable that the traclr between the ends should be straight. Although vonly one unit plate has been shown in position between the tracks and carried by the chain Vit is obvious that any required number of unit plates can be employed spaced at required distances apart.

The unit plates may carry any suitable forms of elements which may consist for example as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of casings 49 arranged behind the apertures in the plate 38 and secured theretoin any desired manner. These casings support pivots 50 carryingbetween them an exhibiting disc 51 one side of which is in contrast to the plate 38 and the other side of which is indistinguishable therefrom. rlfhe upper pivot 50 carries a pinion 52 behind the plate 38 with which meshes a quadrant 53 pivoted at 54 to the casing 49. rEhe quadrant is extended rearwardly into a lever arm 55 and a corresponding arm 56 is pivoted to the diametrically` opposite point of the casing 49 the levers 55 and 56 being connected by a bar 57. This har' 57 has five apertures 58'Y therein spaced at equal distances apart and into one of these apertures a stud 59 is'secured. When the stud is brought into vContact with a' fixed projection and is moved bythe plate 38 to pass the projection it is caused to move with respect to the casing 49 to come to the other side of the centre linev thereof. (that is considering the position with regard toFig. 8) This causes the quadrant 53 to turn the pinion 52 and consequently to rotate the disc 51 through 180o that is from the restto the exhibiting position. The dot and "dash lines in Fig. 7 show an intermediate positionv in the movement of the disc 51. l

The live apertures 58 are provided in the bar 57 so that the projection or stud 59 for each oi' the elements in each horizontal row of live shall comein a different vertical position. Thus considering theupper row of elements in theplate 38 the stud of the iirst to the left could be located in the first aperture of its bar, whilst the element neXt in the row kcould have its stud in the oneimmediately below vand so on, the last on the right having its stud in the lowermost aperture 58. The studs in the second horizontal row of elements from the top will also be similarly arrangedY and the dimensions and arrangements of the parts' are such that the lowermost stud for the upper row comes vertically higher than the uppermost stud of the row below. vIn this manner, when viewed in side elevation, a continuous vertical row of studs 59 will be seen andthere will not bemore than one stud in any position at the same vertical height.

The composing device is indicated diarrammatically by dot and dash rectangularA igures 69 in Figs. 1 and 2. This shows the position the composer occupies in relation to the runways and unit' plates which pass` thereby. j

Referring now to Figs. 11 to 19, which show the composing device together with its associated'setting and driving mechanism, 61 is a framework oi' channel members connected by distance or spacer bars 62 arranged in pairs and each pair carrying between them guide strips 63. strips in the upper and lower positions the vertically arranged jacquard bars 64 aremounted to slide. Their movements are controlled by shaped slots 64u in the upper and lower ends thereof which work over common guide bars 65. They are'retained in the upper position by ay common locking bar 66 carried by lever arms 67 andlrept pressed towards the acquard bars by means'of springs 66a, as shown in Fig. 13,which commonbar 66 engages with noses 68 at the upper'end of Between adjacent guidev ico the jacquard bars 64. The jacquard bars on their front edge have a number of projections'- 69 which are arranged according to a suitable code and so that each projection is associated with an Yelement 39 in 'the unit plates 38. In

this manner according'to one system the pro-v jections on each jacquard bar are such that they are adapted when brought into position to set up a particular letter, numeral or other lao sign on a particular unit plate and as a cony sequence jacquard bars tothe number of letters, numerals and other signs it is desired to set up are provided in the composer. i

these is kept pulled to the lett l are springs for pulling down the jacquard bars from their upper positions when they are freed by the common locking bar 66. Assuming a jacquard bar is in the upper position and held by the locking bar 66 when another jacquard bar is moved to the upper position it causes the locking bar to be moved to the lett (F ig. 12) which 'frees the previously held bar and allows it to be pulled down by its spring and then the second bar is locked by the locking `bar 66.

The jacquard bars 64 can be moved to the upper position by any suitable means and owing to the shaped slots they are also moved forwardly. rllhis brings the projections 69 of the bar that has been moved further to the front than those which remain in the rest position. ln this position the projections 69 are adapted to form the projections in the paths or' the studs 59 of the elements and in this manner the particular elements according to the spacing ot the projections 69 on the jacquard bars are adapted to be set into position.-

The acquard bars may be set into the upper position directly by hand for example from a suitable keyboard or by means of a jacquard drum or roller co-operating directly or through levers with their lower ends the humps or other projections on the jacquard roller being arranged to cause the operation of certain of the jacquard bars in a desired sequencel which can be repeated or changed according to requirements. j

In some cases the acquard bars can be selected by means otl a permutation or other selector device such for example as shown in the upper parts of F 11, 12 and 18.

ln these figures 7 Oa is a channel guide member carried by side platos 71 attached to the upper ends of the standards 61. The channel Uuideway 70a has transverse guides 72 therein for receiving a number oiC horizontally sliding permutation bars 7 8. Each of (Fig. 11) by means of a tension spring 74 and is adapted to be forced to the right by means of a lever 75 18) in a manner hereafter described. 76 are a number 01' electromagnets carried by one side plate 71 the armatures 77 ot which are shaped to liorm noses 78 arranged in the same plane one above the other as shown to the right ot F 11. rl`hese armatures control rocking detent members 79 pivoted on a common pivot between the walls oi the channel 70 their free ends being 'formed with hooks 8O for engaging with hooks at the right hand ends ot the permutation bars 78. By this means any one or more ot permutation bars can be released and pulled to the lett by its spring according to wh" electromagnets 76 are energized. ie arcuate part at the right of Fig. 11 is a stop plate act'. Jframe 71 to limit the outward movement et the armatures 7 The energization or" the electro-magnets is effected by impulses according to any desired telegraph code, for instance, by means of the ve unit code.

The permutation bars 78 are formed with notches in'their outer edges and according` to their relative positions a common groove is formed across all the permutation bars in various positions. ln other words, according to which permutation bar or bars is or are moved, so the common groove can be to the right or to the lett hand side oi the apparatus or in any intermediate position.

81 is a bar extending between the side plates 71. This has pivotally mounted thereon a number of levers 82 separated by distance piece-s. 88 are links pivoted to the tree ends ot the levers 82 and kept pulled to the-lett (Figs. 12 and 18) by means of tension 'springs 84. As shown in Figs. 12 and 18V a shaft or` bar 71a extending across the side plates 71 has a clamp 71?; at each end thereof inside the plates; the clamps support a strip 710 between them as shown, to which strip the ends of the springs 84 are anchored. 85 are other links pivoted at one end to the pivot between the levers 82 and links 88 and at the other end to the upper ends ot the jacquard bars 86 is a bail or bar the ends ot which are carried by levers 87 pivoted at 88 to the side plates which bail in the position shown in 12 is pressing against the whole ot the links 88 and forcing them to the right against the action of their springs 84. The baily 86 presses against the links, in Fig. 12, to hold said links 88 in the eXtreme right position so that they all clear the permutation bars 78, allowing these bars to move in accordance with the setting of the unit. When the bail moves away from the links 88 they are pulled towards the Vbars by their springs 84 so that any particular one may engage with the permutation bars according to the setting. rlfhe links 88 are guided by the slots 89 of a comb formed in the horizontal walls of the channel. 70. 90 are notches in the upper ends of the links 88 and 91 is a raising rod carried between the ends of levers 92 pivoted at 98 to the side plates 71 and under the control of cams 94 through cam followers 95.

The bail 86 is also under the control of cams 96 14) through followers 97 and when this bail is allowed to move to the left in the ,action of the device all the links 88 move to the left. One of the links 88 comes opposite t0 the common groove in the permutation bars 78 and its spring 84 continues to pull it' to theY left and causes it to enter this common groove. Upon the subsequent operation of the cam 94 the lever 92 at each side is moved upwards raising the bar 91. rlhis bar has however, been engaged by the notch 90 of the link 88 which entered the groove of the permutation bars and consequently the rod 91 raises this particular link. The link in turn raises the jacquard iso bar 64 associated therewith until'it is retained in the upperposition by means of the locking bar 66. v The shape and'timing ofthe cams is such that in this position the bail 86 again moves to the right and disengages the raised link 83 "from the bar 91 which bar is left free to descend underr the action of its controlling cams, leaving-the link andassociated jacquard bar 64 in theupperposition. held by bar 66- ready to co/-oper'ate with the next unit plate passing the composing device. The cams 94 are' mounted upon aidriving shaft 98upon which `the cams 96 also are mounted. AThisk shaft' is ydriven at required times that is afterthe permutation bars have been set by meansof any suitable pick up clutching device. s

Figs. 11, 14, 'and 19 show an example of such a clutching device. In Fig. 11 99 is the upper portion of a vertical driving shaft driven from thevmain driving motor 34 through the gearing shown in Fig. 20, to be hereafter described, which verticalV shaft has mounted thereon a bevel wheel 100 meshing with another bevel wheel 100a attached toV one half of ra clutching device 101 mounted to rotate freely on the shaft`98. 102 is a disc carrying `a spring controlled pawl 103 which disc is keyed to the shaft 98 andl con-V stitutes't'he other half ofthe' clutch. lhen the parts are in the position shown-in Fig. 14 the pawl 103 is not caught up by the nose of the half clutch 1'01'which continues to rotate freely on the shaft 98 but when the pawl is in the positionshown in Fig. 19 the nose of the clutch 101 picks up they pawl and carries it round with it.v This causes the rotation of theshaft '-98 and the operation-V e in Fig. 16, the-slide 106 is free to'move to the left under thev action of the lever plate 75 when inthe position shown in Fig. 18. lt is moved to the left if one ormore of the permutation bars 73 are caused to move to the left and-.itis shown inthis position in Fig. 16. lllhen the plate lever 7 5 moves to Vthe left it stresses a return spring 109 which through the lever 110 effects the return of the plate lever with the aidof the cam 104 and guide 106. 111 is a projection or roller on the end of the plate lever 75 which 'co-operates with a two armed detent 112. This detent is normally keptpulled downwards by means of a spring 113 but is held in the upper posi- Y tion' when the projection 111 comes on the end ofthe vother arm thereof as shown in Figs. 14Vv and 17. Inthis'position the detent comes into the path of the tail 114 of the pawls 103 and Aunclutches it from the portion 101 of the clutch.V It holds it in this tion until vthe projection 111 is removed rom the detent arm bythe operation of one Aor more yof the premu'tation bars 73 when it again releases it to the clutching position en# abling the cycle of operations again to be ref peated. 1

ponfthe spindle of the chain wheel 27 at the right hand side of Fig. 1 another sprocket wheel 115 is mounted. This is connected by means of a chain 116 with a sprocket wheel 117 (indicated in Figs-1 and 2 and shown in Figy20) upon a shaft 118. This' shaft has mounted thereon aGreneva` driver 119 which co-operates with a Genevafollower 120 on a spindle 121 which also hasmounted thereon agear wheel 122 m-eshing with a pinion 123 on the lower end of the shaft 99 before referred to.

The sprocket wheel 117 is continuously driven from the main'drive and this drives thershaft 99 through'the Geneva and multi plying gearing intermittently. The number of revolutions of the shaft 99 is'however suflicient to cause the vcomplete cycle. of operations inthe composer and is'timed relatively to thev movements of the `unitr plates passing the composer to bring the projections of the' jacquard bars into position just prior to the unit plates passi/ng thereby.

` The unit plates when set pass from the rear 1i f' to the front around the right hand end of the runway andmove along the front of the runway preferably behind a viewing aperture Vor window until they reach the left hand end of the runway when they again pass to the'rear thereof.

The settings carried vby 'the units which have passed to the rear of the runways may be deleted in any suitable manner but preferably by a deleting device carried at the left hand side of the composer such for exil ample as shown diagrammatically at 124 Figs. 1 and 2. This deleting device may be' driven byany suitable means for example, by means of a pinion 125 on the shaft A118 (Fig. 20) meshing with another bevel pinion 126cm a shaft 127 carrying at the other end another bevel wheel 128v (Fig. 2) meshing with a a manner as previously indicated.l This shaft is supported in Vany suitable bearings (not shown) and carries 'upper and lower frame members 130 between which and any necessary intermediate frame members vertical rods 131 are located. These rods in the exe bevel wheel'on the lend of the'vertical deleter ample shown are spaced at 130o apart although their angular spacing may be less as required. This spacing is controlled by the horizontal distance between vertical rows of elements in the unit plate.

The rods 131 carry at the same horizontal levels as the studs or projections 59 of the elements a number of somewhat springy projections 132 and these projections are so disposed that in their rotation they come against any studs or projections 59 passing thereby which are in the exhibiting position and move them to the rest position thus deleting the announcement or the like and bringing the parts into position to be reset if required.

In place of the projections 69 of the jacquard bars 64 coming directly into contact with the studs 59 or the like in some cases transverse bars may be located in front of the composing device adapted to be rocked 'over by the projections 69 thereof when they are moved forwards and to bring projections at the ends of the bars into the paths of the studs 59 or the like.

Such a device is shown in Figs. 21 to 24 where 133 is a bar having lugs 134 at the ends thereof adapted to be mounted upon suitably supported pivots to bring the bar into the relative position with regard to the acquard bars 64 shown in Fig. 22. As many transverse bars 133 are provided as there are possible projections 69 on the bars 64 and the transverse bars 133'are so located with respect to the projections that they are not af feet-ed by the vertical movement thereof but only by the forward movement. In Fig. 22 the rest position of a bar and associated projections 69 is shown whilst Fig. 23 shows the position of the parts at the end of the purely verticalmovement of the jacquard bar 64 and before the forward movement. Fig. 24 shows the end of the forward movement and it will be seen that the vbar 133 has been turned through a right angle about its pivoted lugs. Each transverse bar 133 at one end carries a spring 135 which has a bent up projecting end 136. In the position shown in Fig. 22 the end 136 projects upwards while in the position shown in Fig. 24 this end projects outwards and comes into the path of the studs 59 or the like.

It will be understood that each bar 137 is common to the projections 69 on the jacquard bars 64 which come at the same level as these projections obviously control the same element. The advantage of using the transverse bars 133 is that the projections 136 thereof all come in the same line and the amount of movement necessary to impart to a unit plate when passing the composing dej vice is much less than that necessary when the projections 69 directly operate the studs or the like 59.

' The return of the transverse bars 133 to their rest position may be effected from the driveV and be simultaneous with the resetting of the jacquard bars or a spring return may be provided which automatically comes into actio-n upon the return of the operating j acquard bari Y In some cases the deleting device may operate so thatit works parallel with the come' posable units. Such a construction is shown somewhat diagrammatically at Figs. 25 and 26. The deleter herein shown is suitable for operation with the units and elements pre1 viously described and comprises two suitably supported vertical shafts 147 intergeared by endless chains passing around sprocket wheels one of the shafts being driven continuously when the apparatus is in operation by a sprocket and chain 148 from the driving means. The upper and lower chains are interconnected by rods 149 and the path of these in plan (Fig. 26) comes parallel to the path of the units. The direc-tion of movement is also the same but the deleter rods 149 move faster than the units. In this manner the said rods return those levers 15() of the elements 151 lwhich may have been set as indicated in the plan Fig. 26 wherein the two levers at the left of the figure have been reset and the three at the right of the figure are about to be reset to the non-exhibiting position. When units of a large size are employed more than one set of rods and associated chains may be employed.

l/vith any form of deleter, means may be provided for retracting it from cooperation with the setting devices or for preventing it from deleting settings when required. This allows a continuous exhibition of a cycle of settings as long as required.

The elements may be set into position by any suitable power for example, electric, pneumatic, mechanical or otherwise or any combination thereof.

The elements may be of any required type and may carry on the exhibiting surfaces a series of prisms, V grooves or round undulating ribs with reflecting surfaces, behind, so arranged that they give enhanced brilliance without carrying an internal light. Light is projected on them from the front or behind. In one form the device consists of a glass element the front of which may be flat or slightly protruding from the face plate.

Where a permutation selector is employed having electro-magnets controlling the release or movements of permutation bars or the like associated therewith the whole may be operated by two magnets one of which actuates the catches in turn and the other spaces the actuating means by escaping it or- 4and similar devices generallythe lighting of the elements or other parts or surfaces or the like to be illuminated vis eected by coat- Ying or otherwise supplying the surfaces with a substance whichis luminous at'niglit and which. preferably also presentsa goodvisible surface by day.

.This conveniently takes the form of a iluorescent, phosphorescent, radio-active or other similar substance, which after beingexcited by .day or artificial light (visible or invisible to the human eye) glows brightly for a period thereafter. Different substances under this head present different colours and in some cases various coloured effects can be presented by .suitable mixtures.

. in element or exhibiting surface of large or small extent constructed according to the luminous method may be of glass, quartz or other suitable transparent material c o'ated on the inside withV the required luminous substance or substances which are preferably protected in any suitable manner.

The treated surface may be exposed or covered when required and movableor stationary and when it is desired'to excite it, is exposed for a pe iod to visible light or light obscured from View in any position in front of or behind the face plate or other device employed.

Vhen it is desired to use light invisible to the human eye this is effected by exposing the surface in one form to ultra violet rays passed through a filter and the substance being thus excited glows brightly. The light rays may be on continuously or intermittently. Y The period of excitation can be considerably shorter than that during which light is emitted. c'

The timing of the exposure to the exciting rays may be effected by the cycles of an apparatus or machine for instance such as that hereinbefore described or by any suitable timingdevice which for example switches on the current intermittently for the required period.

Elements or surfaces generally may be made made .suitable for photo-luminescent substances by constructing them to contain a number of small shallow cells to carryor locate the chemical compounds employed.

Fig. 27 shows in plan and Fig. Q8 in sectional elevation a construction including a surface which may be of glass, Yporcelain or other suitable material divided up by'separating walls 152 into cells 158. These cells which are only'shallow hold the phosphorescent or other photoluminescent or fluorescent material. and by their slight depth use it to the best advantage and most economically. rl`he surface formed with the Walls is ground off perfectly smooth so that allA the dividing walls are of the saine height. Round the edge there is also preferably a flat margin 154. 155 is a glass, quartz, or other suitable cover which is cemented on when the cells 153 have been filled. This cover holds the material inthe cells so that it does not become displaced and keeps it thus evenly spread over the surface. A metal casing 156,

may encircle the element and retain the parts in position by means of a turned down flange Large surfaces or plaques prepared in any' way with the photoluminous material or mapad may be l terials, with or without a binding agent, but

preferably without, and moving or stationary relative to a light or lights may beiused; rllhese may berendered luminous by projecting light 'thereonv or `by contact and in this manner letters, pictures or other-indications can be produced. i

Where projected light is used thismay be in the forni of a beam or beams whose movements may be controlled by atemplate'or the like. could be utilized to write or print on a large surface any desired letters, numerals, Words or'the like according to the template or teinplates in position, the writing or printing gradually and progressively appearing during the operation 'of the visible or invisible beam and remaining for -a period rbefore L gradually disappearing after the beam had finished its operation. Y

The cellular 'surface may not only be used as a container for photoluminescent substances but also when silvered for light reflection. The reflector on this or any other prismatio glass may be on the rough or smooth side thereof and in some cases the rough side may be protected by a separate glass. On

these surfaces light of dierent colours may be reflected to give various effects controlled by' the cycle of a machine.

Unit surfaces may have an image directly printed on them, part being covered by a stencil or other obscuring device foran instant when the part exposed or. unexposed will carry what has been imprinted thereon until the luminous portion fades away.V Designs can also be formed by projecting va'narrow ray of light (which may be invisible to the human eye) through a suitable lens or other projector-in this case the design can be on a large surface guided by a pantograph like movement; that is to say the projecting means can be guided over a small template by hand or automatically vto direct a powerful pencil like beam so that the design isa'ccurately traced on the large surface without hesitation, y

` A variety ofsubstances can be used oneoi1 With one such arrangement a 'beam two are mentioned by Way of example only as photoluminescent :'-k

Sulphide of calcium, sulphide of strontium, sulphide of Zinc, sulphide of barium, Zinc silicate with a small percentage of impurity, fluorescent salycylic acic calcium fluoride. On a running system the phosphorescent elements preferably are excited before they come into theZ line of vision especially when the Whole luminescence spectrum is used but with invisible rays, these may be excited While in the line of vision also a metallic arc, mercury vapour and gas filled lamps may be used for the above purposes and the light, filter' screens and other accessory apparatus may be varied according to the installation, the absorption bands and the luminescence spectrum. W ith ,some materials X rays may be used. l/Vhen required to have a more brilliant surface in the day time than that of the photoluminous surface tvvo surfaces, one reflective, andthe other photoluminous may be mounted so that either of them can be employed. These may be arranged on different sides of a reversible movement employed so that either can be used separately or they are placed in sections side by side. The elements are arranged to have an obscuring surface Which can be used with either of the others and in some cases more than one setting member is used on the element or the direction of operation is reversed.

To obtain as even a distribution of light as possible over the surfaces to be excited especially Where these are large and it is not desired to use more than perhaps a single light or a few lights, the source of light can be made to reciprocate or otherwise travel over or with the surface to compensate for distance, or the time the surface takes in travelling by. Printing on a surface with a stencil or an operable shutter unit, may be used for some purposes in place of mechanical units; also the damping power of certain rays may be used to resto-re the surface to normal for fresh exposure, though if fluorescent materials are used under constant exposure during the required period of visability this is not necessary.

In Fig. 29 is shown an annular member 156 which is illustrated in cross section in Fig. 28. The metal backing in this case is formed so that it may be moved by the roller 200 and the face 155 of the member 156 is constructed in accordance with that shown in Figure 28 and may be formed of any suitable luminous material Which Will be affected by the lamps 201 enclosed Within a screen 202 located adjacent the moving member 156. Rays from the lamps 201 aifect the luminous materials on the annular member 156 in the manner Well known so that they will appear luminous after they have passed beyond the light rays.

In Figure 30 the annular member 56 has a face 155 constructed similarly to the face of the member 156 shown in Figure 29. In this case a projector 205 which is mounted on a horizontal axis 206 and a vertical axis 207 is adapted to be moved in a plurality of directions causing the light rays 208 to affect the luminous elements on the annular member 156.

In Figure 81 a mask or screen 210 is located adjacent one side of the movable mem,- ber 156 and an oscillating` projector 211 is moved across the screen Which is provided With patterns so that the light rays from the projector Will pass through the perforations and affect the luminous elements on the member 156. The screen may be in the form of an annular member Which may be moved continuously before the moving face of the member 156. Y

Figure 32 has substantially the same construction asshovvn in Fig. 29 and includes the annular member 156, the rollers 200, the screen 202, and the lamps 201 for illuminating or for projecting light rays upon the luminous elements of the outer face of the annular member 156. Y'

A second screen 220 faces the annular meinber 156 adjacent one of the rollers 200 and in a position which is opposite to the screen 202. The lamps 221 Within the screen 220 are of the type that the light Wave lengths would dampen out the luminescence of the luminous elements on the member 56.

Having novv particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,

I declare that what I claim is 1. A. device of the character described comprising a selectively operating composing means provided with projections adapted to be selectively actuated to operative or inoperative position, means for selectively setting said projections in operative positions, display elements adapted to be moved to display positions and having projections associated therewith, means for causing the projections of the composing means Which have been set selectively into operative positions to be moved across the path of the display elements to engage and operate the projections of the display elements to cause the projections of the display elements interposed in their path to effect setting of the display elements.

2. A device of the character described comprising a selectively operating composing display elements to cause the projections of the display elementsinterposed in their path to eliect Setting of thedispla'y elements, the ses lectively operated coinposingimeans includ--y e ing slidably mounted bars,andineans for setposition the bars carrying the projecf tions, display elements adapted to be moved to display positions and having tripping means associated therewitlnnieans for causing the tripping means of the 'composing means which have been set selectively into operative positions to be moved across the path ot' the display elements to engage and operate the tripping means of the display elements to cause the tripping means of the display elements interposed in their path to effect set- `tingv of the display elements, and a deleting 'means causing the display elements which have been moved to an operative position to be returned to an inoperative position.

4. A device of the character described comprising a selectively operating composing means provided with projections adapted to be selectively actuated to operative or inop` erative position, means for selectively setting said projections in operative positions, display elements adapted to be moved to display positions and having projections associated therewith, means for causing the projections of 'the composing means which have been set selectively into operative positions to be moved to engage and operate the projections of the display elements across the path of the display elements to cause the projections of the display elements interposed intheir path to eliect setting of the display elements, and a deleting means and means for causing timed movements of the deleting means with respect to movements of the display elements.

5. A device of the character described com-4 prising a selectively operating composing means provided with projections adapted to be selectively actuated to operative or inoperative position, means for selectively setting said projections in operative positions, display elements adapted to be moved to display positions and having projections associated therewith, means for causing the projections of the composing means which have been set .selectively into operative positions to be moved across the path of the display elements to engage and operate the projections of the display elements to cause the projections of the display elements interposed in their path to eiiqect setting of thedisplay elements, a deleting means consisting of a plurality of projections adapted to be brought into the path of the projections of the display elements,'means for rotating the deleting means and lsynchronized inv such manner that the projections of the deleting means will engage the projections of the display elements for moving1 the said display elements to inoperative positions.

. 6.l A device of the character described comi prising a `selectively operating composing means provided with projections adapted to be selectively actuated to operative or inoperative position, means for selectively setting' said projections in operative positions, display elementsadapted to be moved to display positions and having projections associated4 therewith, means for causing` theprojections of the composing-means which have been set selectively into operative positions to be ymoved into operative positions across the path of the display elements to engage the' projections of the display elements to cause the projections Vof the display'elements interposed in their path to effect-setting of the display elements, means operating the composing means, and means controlled bythe selective setting means for disconnecting the coin-A posing means with its moving means.

7. A device of the character described comprisi'ng a selectively operatingcomposing meansl provided with projections adapted to be selectively actuated -to operative or inopei-` ative position, means for selectively setting/f said projections in operative positions, display elements adaptedl to be moved to display positions and havingl projections associated therewith, means for*l causing the projections of the composing Vmeans which have been set selectively -into operative posi-v f tions to be moved into operative positions across the path of the display elements to en` gage the vprojections of the display elements to ca usethe projections of the display elements interposed in their path to eect setting ofY the display elements, the selectively l operated composing means including slidably mounted bars carrying projections adapted Y to be engaged by the projections for the display element, the bars being adapted tobe set in operative position by the selective means.

8; Adevice of the character described comprising a'v sele-ctively operating composing means provided with projections adapted to be selectively actuated to operative or inoperative position, means for selectively setting said'projections inoperative positions, playelements adapted to be moved to display i positions and having projections associated therewith, means for causing the projections of theV composing means which have been set selectively 'into operative positions to he moved into operative positions across the path of the display elements to engage the projec tions of the display elements to cause the projections of the display elements inter'- posed in their path to effect' setting of the dis! play elements, said means for selectively set Cil ting the projections of the composing means including a plurality of electric means adapted to be selectively set into operation from the remote point for controlling the composing means and its respective projections.

9. A device of the character described comprising a selectively operating composing means provided With projections adapted to be selectively actuated to' operative or inoperative position, means for selectively setting said projections in operative positions, display elements adapted to be moved to display positions and having projections associated therewith, means for causing the projections of the composing means Which have been set selectively into operative positions to be moved into operative positions across the path of the display elements to engage the projections of the display elements to cause the projections of the display elements interposed in their path to effect setting of the display elements, the means for causing the projections of the composing means to be moved into operative position including a plurality of cams, levers actuated by the cams, slidably mounted bars adapted to be placed in an operative or an inoperative position by the levers, and links connected with the slidably mounted bars and adapted to be controlled in their oscillating movement by mea-ns of said levers.

l0. In a device of the character described the combination of elements provided with surfaces formed of materials Which become self luminous under the action of the rays of light, an exciting source of light adapted to be projected on the surfaces, means for causing selective projection of the light on certain of the substances and in such a manner that the point of incidence of the light is relatively movable with respect to said surfaces.

ll. In a device of the character described the combination of elements provided With surfaces formed of materials which become self luminous under the action of the rays of light, an exciting source of light adapted to be projected on the surfaces, a projector associated With the source of light7 means operatively connected With the projector for causing a beam of light to trace a predetermined pattern of the surfaces.

12. In a device of the character described the combination of elements provided With surfaces formed of materials which become i self luminous under the action of therays of light, 'an exciting source of light adapted to be projected on the surfaces, a projector associated With the source of light, means operatively connected with the projector for causing a beam of light to trace a predetermined pattern of the surfaces, and a mask adjacent said surface and relatively movable With respect to said surface during the exciting action of the light rays.

13. In a device of the character described the combination of elements provided Awitl'i surfaces formed of materials which become self luminous under the action of the rays of light, anV exciting source of light adapted to be projected on the surfaces, meansfor caus' liti 

